The Uplift War by Brin is a very good novel.
Demon Breed by James Schmitz I also recommend. And the Teltzy and Trigger books.
Weber' s Safehold, Honor Harrington, Honorverse, Empire of Man, and Dahak series.
Eric Flint's Assiti Shards series.
James White's Sector General books.

For comparison, you might check out Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi -- a reworking of the original. Also read by Wil Wheaton.

Ack, no.

Scalzi's novel is a re-working of something which has aged quite well, and transforms Old Man Jack Holloway from a person I'd love to meet to a spoiled brat of a lawyer I can't decide whether to cane or hang.